Parables for Life in the 21st Century [Paperback]

Stuart Gustafson (Author), Woodrow W. Gustafson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 6, 2004

Parables for Life in the 21st Century" is a book of twenty-four stories that you can use today. Each of these modern parables is followed by an understandable moral. Then that moral is applied in business and personal situations.
Some of these morals might already be familiar to you, such as Aesop's "Slow but steady wins the race." Others might not be familiar, such as, "Being born with a silver spoon in your mouth doesn't teach you how to feed yourself."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stuart Gustafson received his undergraduate degree in Mathematics from San Diego State University, and he has his MBA from the University of San Diego. He has recently retired from Hewlett-Packard Company in Boise, Idaho, where he was in a business management role for enterprise and global customers. Stuart is on the faculty of the University of Phoenix, where he teaches courses in mathematics and in finance, both at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Besides work and writing, Stuart enjoys painting with acrylics, listening to music (classical or rock 'n roll), and traveling. He has been married to Darlene Smith for thirty-four years, and they have one daughter and one son.

In order to expand his Parables for Life in the 21st Century series, Stuart is accepting story submissions for upcoming books. Please visit his website at stuartgustafson[dot]com for more information, including compensation, etc.

Stuart has teamed up with veteran author Robyn Freedman Spizman in a series of books called Questions to Bring You Closer . The first book in this series Questions to Bring You Closer to Dad was released in April 2007 by Adams Media. Questions to Bring Closer to Mom was released in March 2008, and Questions to Bring Closer to Grandma & Grandpa was released in July 2008.

Product Details

• Paperback: 165 pages
• Publisher: Stuart Gustafson; 1st edition (December 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615126294
• ISBN-13: 978-0615126296
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,458,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An anthology of twenty-four current stories, August 11, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parables for Life in the 21st Century (Paperback)

Parables for Life in the 21st Century: Modern Parables You Can Apply in Business and in Your Personal Life is an anthology of twenty-four current stories, each with a readily understandable and relevant moral. Some morals may be familiar such as Aesop's "Slow but steady wins the race"; others might be new to the reader, such as "Being born with a silver spoon in your mouth doesn't teach you how to feed yourself." Each modern parable is followed by a more detailed explanation of the parable's meaning and applications. A highly illuminating collection, offering a format that drives its truthful and valuable messages home with stories that resonate and remain in one's memory.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Good Attempt At A Tough Challenge, July 23, 2008

By 

E. Howard (Pawtucket, RI, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Parables for Life in the 21st Century (Paperback)

Anyone who attempts to write parables runs the risk of being compared to the master--Jesus. No one can equal such a high standard, but Stuart Gustafson shows that he has a definite gift for writing in this genre. The parables here are often humorous, sometimes multicultural, and always contain either an old insight with a different twist or a new insight with a message for today. These parables can help us live with more poise, compassion, and self-understanding. They also remind us not to take ourselves so seriously and to look for the hidden humor in ordinary events.

4.0 out of 5 stars Today's stories, July 27, 2007

By 

Nicola Hurle "Nicky" (Australia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Parables for Life in the 21st Century (Paperback)

The stories, or parables, contained in this book provide some link to the parable approach to teaching that Jesus used, but were not quite as on the ball as I would have liked. They can be useful for a quick read and students, if you chose to read them out, would enjoy them, but they don't really have the profound teaching twists of the Master himself.